EDITORIAL

Published: October 13, 2003 8:00 PM

We have finally found our dream job.

According to wire reports, Congress is considering revamping the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, which specifies that after the vice president the order of succession is, first, the speaker of the House; then the president pro tem of the Senate; then the secretary of state; then the secretary of the treasury, followed by the other Cabinet officers in accordance with the seniority of their departments. As head of the newest Cabinet department, the secretary of homeland security is last in the line of succession.

Critics of the 1947 law believe that having members of the legislative branch being second and third in line to head the executive branch is procedurally messy, prone to divisive squabbles at a critical time and perhaps even unconstitutional.

According to the Associated Press, several presidential scholars have proposed creating the new post of assistant vice president, who would be available to step in if the president or vice president dies, resigns or is incapacitated.

Other than maintaining his vital signs, the vice president's only duty is to break the rare tie in the Senate and for this he gets $192,600 a year.

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Imagine how little his assistant would have to do.

One proponent said the assistant's primary duty ... would be to remain in a secure location outside Washington, D.C., and away from the president and vice president."